Figure 1 Movement test setup for penetration system (HCH ID: 139577)

Movement in buildings occurs due to various factors such as seismic activity, thermal cycling, hydraulic shock, wind loads, vibrations, live loads of slabs, deflection of services, etc. Building Movement can cause failure of penetration and linear joint firestop systems by developing cracks and gaps in the assembly. For instance, the building with high susceptibility to vibrations develops cracks in the structure and by extrapolation, develops cracks and movement in firestop assemblies.

The Evolution of Standards

Joints by design are supposed to accommodate various movements induced by the reasons mentioned above. ASTM E1966 began to acknowledge this impact and added testing methods for movement capabilities of linear joints.

Initially for penetration systems, standards like ASTM E814 assumed a firestop system to be rigid, with no movement. However, this assumption has been challenged and revised over time. In 2016, ASTM E3037 was issued. This addresses the “Test Method for Measuring Relative Movement Capabilities of Through-Penetration Firestop Systems”.

HILTI acknowledges the impact of movement in both penetration and joint systems and performs internal testing at its in-house testing facility for its portfolio for joint systems as well as penetration system.

Both firestop systems are tested by cycling a certain number of times to achieve certain displacement. The systems are tested by a combination of both perpendicular and parallel directions, to represent movement that can be experienced over a building’s lifetime. Each cycle and distance are tracked until a maximum movement capability is attained. The system is then subjected to a fire test to ensure the firestop system will perform as intended in the event of a fire, even after being subjected to movement.

Figure 2 Simplified example of movement test assembly for penetration1

Identifying Movement Capabilities
 
For penetrations, the movement range categories for the Y** direction (perpendicular to the penetrant) are (up to) 5%, 25%, 50% and 100% of the annular space, and for the Z** direction (parallel to the penetrant) (up to) .25”, .5”, 1”, 3.21”.

For joints, the movement capability ranges for different causes are true only if the system
withstand cycling as per the following table 3.

It’s important to note that a system cannot be certified for movement alone and must also pass the fire test. These results quantify the amount of movement firestop systems can accommodate while still performing as intended in the event of a fire.

Research and Testing

Hilti has successfully tested a variety of penetration and linear joint systems, from those that use sealants, such as FS-ONE Max, to those that use pre-formed devices, such as the speed sleeve CP 653 or firestop blocks CFS-BL. Through intense movement criteria research and testing, Hilti has determined that pre-formed devices, such as drop-in devices (CFS-DID), cast-in devices (CFS-CID), firestop blocks (CFS-BL) and speed sleeves (CP 653) perform significantly better when it comes to movement than traditional sealant systems (refer to table below for testing results). The preformed devices typically exceed the limit thresholds set by the standards, and as a result, for firestop systems where movement is
critical, these devices would be recommended. Some firestop devices, for example, allow up to 100% movement in Y direction and the highest performance in Z direction like CP 680, CP
653 etc. (refer to table below).

Figure 3 Test results of firestop solutions for movement – preformed devices

Figure 4 Test results of firestop solutions for movement – sealants

Additional Attributes
 
These products also provide multiple additional attributes like acoustic insulation, air and gas tightness, water resistance, etc. to serve multiple needs of different stakeholders. These attributes, together with the fulfillment of movement criteria described, help make buildings more resilient. In addition, HILTI can be a great partner to collaborate with to achieve Sustainability Goals as we help you achieve Green Building Certification through VOC certificates, Material Health Certificates, Product Carbon Footprint and Environmental Product Declarations.

Conclusion

One should not take movement capability* data as a single/only parameter for firestop selection. It is advised to check other parameters like seismic study, climatic conditions at site, required fire rating, type of penetrant and penetrating items etc. and select the most optimal firestop solution using HILTI UL Selector. This comprehensive approach ensures the safety and longevity of the building structure, considering the dynamic nature of building movements.

Also, make sure the solution installed in a joint system could accommodate sufficient joint compression, joint extension, or both, as compared to the compression or extension expected of the joint. Most of the joints in buildings will experience both extension and compression over time, but some listed joint systems are for compression only. These may therefore, be inadequate and should be avoided.

* Movement capability is the max. amount of movement, the joint seal can tolerate as stated by manufacturer, expressed as a percentage** of the nominal width.
** The percentage is the displacement in one direction i.e. for lateral movement either elongation (+x%) or compression (-x%).

**(X = vertical movement, up and down,
Y = horizontal movement, left and right, perpendicular to the penetrant
Z = axial movement, in and out, parallel to the penetrant)

For more information, please contact your local Hilti experts or go to Hilti's online shop.

      I.         For more information about Engineering Judgement, check out this EJ article in our Engineering Center.
     II.         For more information about firestop codes, regulations and standards, check out this Codes article in our Engineering Center.
    III.         To know more about the importance of compartmentation, check out these articles (compartmentation part 1, compartmentation part 2) in our Engineering Center.
    IV.         To check out the HILTIs online shop, visit our website: Hilti Online

References:

1.     ASTM E3037-20
2.     Movement whitepaper
3.     ASTM E1966